Israeli-Arab town in central Israel suffers ‘price tag’ attack

JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli-Arab town in central Israel was hit with what police believe to be a “price tag” attack.

Some 19 cars were damaged and had their tires slashed on Tuesday, and racist graffiti was painted at the entrance to Jaljulia, near Kfar Saba. The town has about 9,000 residents, nearly all Arabs.

Police are investigating the incident — the first such incident in central Israel within the 1967 borders, according to Israeli news reports. Nearly all the price tag attacks against Israeli Arabs have been in the West Bank or eastern Jerusalem.

The graffiti included “Every Arab is a criminal” and “God is king,” according to reports.

Price tag refers to the strategy adopted by extremist settlers and their supporters to exact retribution for settlement freezes and demolitions or Palestinian attacks on Jews.